Utility partition, Running the system diagnostics – Dell PowerEdge 1400SC User Manual
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Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD
2-3
The utility partition is a bootable partition on the hard-disk drive that provides some of
the functions available on the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD. Most of the
application programs found on the CD are contained in the utility partition. When
implemented, the partition boots and provides an executable environment for
the partition's utilities. When the utility partition is not booted, it is designated as a
non–MS-DOS
®
partition.
NOTE: The utility partition provides only limited MS-DOS functionality and cannot be
used as a general-purpose MS-DOS partition.
To start the utility partition, turn on or reboot the system. During the power-on self-
test (POST), the following message appears:
The utility partition provides a text-based interface from which you can run the parti-
tion's utilities. To select a menu option, you can either use the arrow keys to highlight
the option and press
partition, press
the system to reboot to the standard operating-system boot partition.
Table 2-1 provides a sample list and explanation of the options that appear on the util-
ity partition menu even when the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD is not in the
CD-ROM drive. The options displayed on your system may vary depending on the
configuration.
NOTE: Although most options are available from both the Dell OpenManage Server
Assistant CD and the utility partition, some options or features are available only from
the CD.
You can run the system diagnostics from the utility partition, but not from the Dell
OpenManage Server Assistant CD. From the Utility Partition menu, select Run Dell
System Diagnostics. To run the diagnostics from a set of diskettes, create diagnos-
tics diskettes from the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD.
Run Dell System Diagnostics
Runs the system hardware diagnostics.
Run RAID Configuration Utility
Runs the RAID controller configuration util-
ity if a RAID controller card is installed.
NOTE: The options displayed on your system are dependent on your system configuration and may
not include all of those listed here. For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this
table, see the Glossary.